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VGL Competitions / Pennant2018 VGL Pennant Season
2017 VGL Pennant SeasonThe 2017 VGL Pennant season commences with a few changes, the biggest one is the change of home course. The question is, will it help or hinder our pennant chances? A new layout to learn, greens that aren't bumpy and inconsistent, and yet only 2-3 months for each pennant player to adapt before the season commences. Good greens might help some players or even our opponents, it might also umask the frailties of our Putting Champion Lou Hermann, where we find that the Emerald greens actually assisted him and he is not as good a putter than we first thought. With the Emerald Golf Club leaving the VGL, the Olinda Seniors team have been placed in the Jim Ferrier division, playing the likes of Dorset 2, Australasian (Edithvale) and Centenary Park White. The Seniors season commences on Thursday 2nd March with an away encounter against Dorset 2. Will this match be against former pennant captain Dave "Outlaw" Whitelaw? Please contact the Seniors Captain Jeff Smith to let him know if you want to play this year. The only requirement apart from bringing a winning game is to be over 50.  With no dodgy handicaps that the Elsternwick Park club dished out when they stole the premiership last year, the 2017 Division 4 season will see the team play on some interesting courses. This year the combatants are Sandringham, Malvern Valley who were promoted from Division 5, and Northcote Park Green who were relegated from Division 3. Handicap Pennant will commence on Sunday 2nd April at Sandringham. Please contact the Handicap Captain Lou Hermann to let him know if you want to play this year. 
2016 VGL Pennant SeasonThe 2016 VGL Pennant season again showed that Olinda Golf Club teams can punch above their weight. Both team performed exceptionally well and made the finals due to the assistance of having a good home advantage at the Emerald Golf and Country Resort. 
The 2016 "Smithy's Old Sons" team again played well for their captain and made their way to consecutive finals appearences. Starting with the best possible start with a 6-0 thrashing of Ringwood at home. Olinda had to play a string of away matches in Rounds 2-4, but picked up a critical 6.5 match points in those close away losses. Only requiring two home victories and results of other matches to full our way, the senior team finished with a close home win in Round 5 against Australasian and then a comanding win against top team Sandringham to make the finals. Despite the big win in the last round against Sandringham, the final unfortunately saw the team fall again at the last hurdle, Sandringham's players responded and they won 4.5 to 1.5.  Captain Jeff Smith and Mike Muller again had wonderful senior pennant seasons finishing with a positive performance overall. Garry O'Brien also played great golf during the season and Roy Matthews was quite servicable when required. It was good to see two new senior pennant faces in John Ellerbock, who filled in for two matches, and Phil Chrimes. 
The 2016 "Hermann's Hitmen" side also made it to the finals for the second year running. It was a season where it had to play opponents on nine hole courses (Forest Hills, Elsternwick Park), much to the chagrin of the players. Like the senior pennant team the handicap team started the best way possible with the all important away win at Forest Hills. The team was 4 from 4 after winning the required home matches, with the last two away rounds a fait compli for the team had already qualified for the finals, the two losses not affecting the result though the pesky Elsternwick side managed to take an away win at Forest Hills to finish the regular season above Olinda. In the end it was another fighting finals loss for the team as Elsternwick's 40 shot advantage was too much, though some impressive performances resulted in the team winning 3.5 matches. Tim Venten continued this season's wonderful form, winning his match to remain undefeated, even after reducing his handicap significantly the day before playing to scratch at Beaconhills. Michael Wiltshire continued his pennant final love affair with the Werribee course, and Mike Muller showed why he was in the finals squad with an impressive victory. John Ellerbock, a last minute substitute as Jeff was ill overnight, played a good match to finish with a half, despite missing the Werribee Park turnoff and driving to Avalon and then turning round only to make the tee off with two minutes to spare.  The season statistics were quite even with Tim, Mike and Jeff having positive performances overall. Phil, Bruce, Mike and Lou had even performances while Wayne, John and Anthony overall had more losses than wins. The team will stay in Division 4 next year, and will be playing against Sandringham, Division 3 relegated Northcote Park and Division 5 promoted (Cragieburn-Willmott Park / East Malvern) side. 
2015 VGL Pennant SeasonThe 2015 VGL pennant season of mixed fortunes for both Olinda pennant squads. The heartbreak of the last round in the 2014 season for the seniors clearly etched in their thoughts, the team was wanting to go one better and make it into the finals in the Norman Von Nida division. Team would battle against Brighton, Glen Waverley and Dorset. After a positive start at home, thrashing the Dorset team 5-0, the seniors went down fighting away at Brighton before Glen Waverley handed the team a beating at Jells Park. Last years shock loss to Dorset away in the last round came and haunted the team again in the round 4 clash at Dorset, where the last placed team won 4.5 to 0.5. Which meant with the last two home matches remaining the seniors team needed to win both matches well, and won their round 5 clash 4-1 against Brighton. Needing to win 5-0 against Glen Waverley to make the finals, the team agonisingly fell short, beating Glen Waverley 4-1 but missing the finals which was won by Brighton. With new jerseys and nicely balanced team the Handicap side was expecting to improve from the previous year after just missing out of a spot in the 2014 Division 4 finals. The handicap side would play against last years Division 4 beaten finalist, Yarraview, with promoted Elsternwick Park and relegated Tirhatuan rounding out the division. After starting the season with three away matches, the handicap team would lose those away matches in close fashion to be at the bottom of the ladder after 3 rounds. But the home course advantage would play into the team's hands, resulting in thrashing Yarraview 6-1 and then beating top placed Elsternwick Park 5-2. With the team in third place but with leading in the crucial match points statistics, the handicap team required only to win at home against Tirhatuan to cement top position, which they did with a 6-1 thrashing, consigning Tirhatuan to relegation. The final at Werribee Park was played against Yarraview, however the team would fall short in a close battle, losing out to Yarrview 4-3, three matches finishing on the 18th hole for two losses which was heartbreaking as the Olinda team had the advantage of the ball match in hand. The season statistics had one standout, Anthony Crane would win all matches he played, winning all seven matches and winning his finals match 6&4. |
Copyright 2016
